Question

Which of the following statements about extinction is false?

o Some species may become extinct because they evolve into a new species.
o At least 50 mass-extinction events have occurred during the last 500 million years.
o The movement of tectonic plates can cause a mass extinction as the distribution of habits shifts.
o Recent species are disappearing at such a rapid rate that researchers suggest our present time is another mass extinct

Answer 1

The false statement about extinction is that "At least 50 mass-extinction events have occurred during the last 500 million years." In fact, there have been five major mass extinctions documented in the fossil record, with the sixth potentially occurring now as a result of human activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

False Statement Regarding Extinction:

The statement “At least 50 mass extinction events have occurred during the last 500 million years” is false. The fossil record documents that there have been five major mass extinctions, not 50, over the past 542 million years. These mass extinctions have attracted significant research into their causes, with the most recent being widely attributed to an asteroid impact. Currently, we are experiencing what could be the sixth mass extinction due to human actions like habitat destruction, introduction of exotic species, and overharvesting, resulting in a rapid decline of species.

It's important to note that species extinction as a natural process has occurred throughout Earth's history. However, the current rapid rate of extinction is concerning and is driven largely by human activities. Unlike natural extinctions that have happened due to environmental changes or cataclysmic events to which species could not adapt, the current wave of extinctions is directly linked to human actions, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.